Housing tips for SMC's International Students
Samantha Chinchilla, a Santa Monica College student, ponders in thought on the campus grounds after Santa Monica College re-opens its doors for Vaccinated students for the fall semester on September 2, 2021, in Santa Monica, Calif. (Jon Putman | The Corsair)
Santa Monica College (SMC) doesn’t provide on-campus housing due to its status as a commuter school, however, Denise Kinselle, the head of International Education Center (IEC), helps international students with housing by offering information on off-campus housing.
A 1 bedroom apartment in Santa Monica is $1300 higher on average than one in Los Angeles. Fraud is also a considerable concern for people searching online for housing. Because of these factors, Kinselle suggests that students take short-term homestay, staying with a host family, before looking for permanent housing accommodations. This way, students can secure housing of their choice, price, and can look for housing around the SMC area or Westwood area. The IEC website suggests looking into cooperative housing through the University Cooperative Housing Association.
Kinselle advises students to be aware of additional costs like utilities and application fees and to consider the commute to SMC. Kinselle says that apartments in Santa Monica and the Westside area often include water and trash pick-up, but do not include gas, water, electricity, or internet. International students are advised to pay around $1300/month for room and board. SMC provides free Big Blue Bus Service to SMC students. The Big Blue Bus only services the Santa Monica area, so students living outside of its service area cannot take advantage of this benefit.
Mahabala Orlov, an international student, says he had difficulty while looking for apartments near Santa Monica. He couldn’t find an apartment in his price range. When he first arrived in the United States (US), he was lucky enough to know friends with whom he could stay for a while, which made it easier for him to search for apartments in his price range. He wanted to find a space that was around $1000/ month, shared room and bath, and was close to SMC.
To be accepted for housing as an international student, he needed an I-90 form (a certificate of eligibility for nonimmigrant student status) and a bank statement from his parents. This showed property owners that Orlov is a dependent, and his parents are responsible for his dues if he fails to pay. Furthermore, he says he did not take help from the IEC department, which he thinks would have made the process much easier.
Landlords typically require a net income of more than 2x the monthly rent and verify a renter’s financials using bank statements, pay stubs, and credit checks. They will require an upfront rent payment and security deposit.
When asked if SMC would have housing on-campus, Kinselle politely responds that she would be excited if there could ever be on-campus housing for international students as they are the ones who struggle most.
More information about international housing is available on the IEC website.